Fifa president Gianni Infantino has ‘spoken to Iran players’ about playing World Cup games in US | OneFootball

Gianni Infantino has said that Iran will play their World Cup 2026 fixtures in the United States, with Fifa’s president insisting that “everything is fine” following conversations with players and head coach Amir Ghalenoei.

Iran’s participation at this summer’s tournament has been questioned since the US and Israel began an armed conflict with the country in late February.

However, Infantino attended Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Antalya on Tuesday and sought to play down fears of a late change in schedule or the country’s withdrawal from the tournament despite Iranian officials calling their participation into doubt and Donald Trump suggesting it would not be “appropriate ... for their own safety.”

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Infantino watches Iran’s friendly against Costa Rice (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

“Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino told AFP. “That’s what we’re here for. The matches will be where they are supposed to be, according to the draw. Iran will be at the Fifa World Cup, and we’re excited because they’re a very, very strong team, in my opinion, right now. So, I’m very happy.

“I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach. So, everything’s fine. We’re delighted because they are a very, very strong team. I’m very happy.”

Iran are set to open their Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium and Egypt. They have qualified for six previous World Cups, including Qatar in 2022, but are yet to make it out of the group stages.

Trump said earlier this month that Iran would be “welcome” before adding in a social media post that it would not be "appropriate … for their own life and safety."

Those comments followed Iran's Minister of Sports and Youth Ahmad Donyamali claiming that the team “do not have the possibility for participation” owing to the war.

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Infantino presents Trump with an award. (AP)

"Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup,” he said, as reported by the BBC. "Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist."

Donyamali added that "over the past eight or nine months, two wars have been imposed on us and several thousand of our people have been killed and martyred. Therefore, we definitely do not have the possibility for participation."